Side-Extendable Furniture Front Panel Coupling for Linked Drawers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture designs with pull-out elements on one side of a furniture body are not optimized for practical use and production efficiency, often requiring additional mechanical devices for simultaneous extension and lacking intuitive operation.
Innovation Solution
A furniture design with a drive unit inside the body that extends one furniture element, causing another to extend automatically, eliminating the need for additional mechanical coupling and allowing for simultaneous or independent operation of multiple elements, featuring an electric or pneumatic drive, sensors, and actuating elements for controlled extension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a concealing front panel is used to cover other drawers, then the furniture appearance is improved and lockability is simplified, but additional mechanical devices are required for simultaneous extension of multiple drawers
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the natural interaction between the concealing front panel and the covered drawer front to achieve automatic coupling. When the covered drawer is pulled, its front automatically pushes against the concealing panel, causing both to extend simultaneously without requiring external mechanical coupling devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The concealing front panel serves as an intermediary element that mediates the extension motion between the covered drawer and the external user. The panel transmits the extension force naturally through its positioning relationship, eliminating the need for separate mechanical transmission devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate drive units are provided for each furniture element, then each element can be extended independently, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the drive function for multiple furniture elements into a single drive unit. By positioning the concealing front panel and covered drawer front in specific spatial relationships, one drive can extend both elements simultaneously through their natural mechanical interaction, reducing the total number of drive units required.
3Ease of operation
If traditional mechanical coupling devices are used for simultaneous extension, then multiple drawers can be extended together, but noise and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical coupling devices with a simpler positioning-based mechanism. The concealing front panel and covered drawer front are positioned such that their geometric relationship naturally enables simultaneous extension, eliminating the need for latches, linkages, or other mechanical coupling components that generate noise and wear.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simpler production, reduces noise and wear, and provides intuitive operation with reduced force requirements, allowing for simultaneous or independent extension of multiple elements without additional mechanical devices.
Implementation Method 1
the second furniture element pushes the front panel of the first furniture element in front of it
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The furniture (1) has multiple furniture elements extendable at a side of a furniture body. A drive medium (6) is provided within the furniture body for extending the extendable furniture elements by an actuating element. The drive medium extends the latter furniture element, where the extension of the latter furniture element causes the extension of the former furniture element from a retracted condition.